House GOP panel curbs fracking role for feds

Democrat Tonko says vote another giveaway to big oil, gas producers

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy

Updated 11:02 pm, Wednesday, July 31, 2013

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) speaks during a press conference with Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) (L) and Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) held by the House Immigration Reform Caucus at the U.S. Capitol June 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. The group held the press conference to announce the introduction of the SMART Border Act of 2013, an immigration reform bill. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) less

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) speaks during a press conference with Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) (L) and Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) held by the House Immigration Reform Caucus at the U.S. Capitol June ... more

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Congressman Paul Tonko speaks Monday, June 24, 2013, during a dedication ceremony for a new community playground at the Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capital Region's Albany Street site in Schenectady, N.Y. The playground was dedicated to female veterans. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) less

Congressman Paul Tonko speaks Monday, June 24, 2013, during a dedication ceremony for a new community playground at the Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capital Region's Albany Street site in Schenectady, N.Y. ... more

Photo: Lori Van Buren

House GOP panel curbs fracking role for feds

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The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would effectively block the federal government from regulating the hydraulic fracturing process that is unlocking previously unrecoverable supplies of gas and oil.

On a mostly party-line vote of 23-15, the panel sent the measure to the full House of Representatives, which is expected to debate the legislation later this year. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., bucked Democratic colleagues in supporting the bill; Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J., broke with Republicans to vote against it.

The proposed rule — which would apply only on the sliver of territory managed by the Interior Department — also would force companies to disclose the chemicals they pump underground and would make drillers adopt plans for managing waters at wells.

Although the proposal would allow exemptions in states with equivalent or better oversight, Republican lawmakers said it still would translate to an unnecessary new layer of federal regulation.

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"These burdensome and duplicative regulations could significantly inhibit hydraulic fracturing on federal land," said Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo. "State regulators are in the best position to handle the day-to-day management of (oil and gas activities) within their states."

Texas Republican Rep. Bill Flores, who sponsored the bill, said it is essential to place "a check on the growth of out-of-control, one-size-fits-all government" that could strangle a new oil and gas revolution in the United States. "Hydraulic fracturing has been effective regulated by the states for decades, and BLM's attempts to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level only add more red tape and unnecessary burdens that will ultimately harm our energy security," Flores said.

But Democratic critics said Flores' bill would block the most basic of standards for drilling on public lands, even in states that have virtually no mandates of their own. Under Flores' bill, the prohibition on federal regulations would apply anywhere states have regulations, guidance or permit requirements for hydraulic fracturing.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., called that an "unbelievably broad exemption."

The result is that federal fracturing regulations would be off limits even in "a state that says 'you have to pay $10 and file a piece of paper for a permit,'" DeFazio said. "That would preempt the federal government from protecting the resources" in that state, even on public lands also used for hunting, fishing and hiking.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said the measure was "little more than a giveaway to big oil and gas companies to run roughshod over federal and state lands."

"This bill would preempt the Interior Department from executing their mission of ensuring that federal land — land owned by the American people — is protected for this and future generations," said Tonko, of Amsterdam.